Clasp



Patented Jan. l7, I899.

No. 6l7,945.

J. F. ATWOOD.

CLASP.

Application filed Feb. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

A/ITNEEEEE j i Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. ATWOOD, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,945, dated January 17, 1899.

Application filed February 18, 1898. Serial No. 670,810. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. ATWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps adapted to be used for supporting garments or portions thereof or for attaching garments or articles of apparel together, such as supporting hose or underwear, attaching cuffs to shirt-sleeves, neckties or scarfs to shirt-bosoms, the.

The invention relates particularly to that class of clasps in which two directly-connected spring-jaws are forced against opposite sides of the garment to be clasped as distinguished from the style of clasp illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me November 27, 1883, and January 5, 1886, and numbered 289,057 and 333,494., re spectively, in which an intermediate springjaw extends between the outer jaws, and a cam-lever having its bearing in one of the outer jaws forces the intermediate jaw against the fabric, which is placed between said intermediate jaw and the outer jaw.

The nature of the invention is fully described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the spring-jaws of my clasp are formed. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of my improved clasp in its normal open position. Fig. 3 is a side or edge elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a central transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5, Fig. 4, looking toward the rear jaw. Fig. 6 is a central transverse vertical section of the clasp closed and engaging a piece of fabric. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7, Fig. 3, looking upward.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In constructing this clasp from the piece of sheet metal illustrated in Fig. 1 the wings are folded inward toward each other on the broken lines W, so as to be nearly or substantially parallel with the main portion, and constitute the flat springs A and B, and the main porion is then bent centrally and folded into I... shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the flat springs A B are on the inside of the jaws A and B. The central or bent portion is preferably formed into the curved shape 0.

jaw B is formed with the preferably rectan-.

gular opening I), such openings corresponding substantially in shape and being coincident in position.

Extending substantially across the two openings a and b and supported by the opposite edges thereof are the small horizontal bars or rods D and E, the rod D, which extends across the opening a in the front jaw A, being somewhat higher than the rod E, which extends across the opening bin the rear jaw B. A preferably flat lock-lever H is formed at its rear end with a large loop H, said loop extending around the two rods D and E and being sufficiently large to allow the jaws to spring apart to the extent indicated in the drawings.

In practice when a piece of fabric, as S, is to be grasped it is placed between the jaws and the free end of the locking-lever H is forced down from the raised horizontal position indicated in Fig. 4 into the position indicated in Fig. 6, in which it is substantially parallel with the jaw A. The size of the loop H allows that portion of the lever to mount the higher rod D andforce the jaws together and hold them in position.

By means of the inwardly horizontally folded springs A B, which are formed with central openings 01 e, coinciding, respectively, with the openings Ct b, the sheet metal of which the jaws are constructed may be made much thinner than would be the case if the same amount of strength and rigidity were secured without the folding springs, and hence the requisite thickness of the metal at the bend C may be provided without thinning the stock at that point. Moreover, the slightly-yielding quality produced by such springs is of service in grasping the fabric and in pressing the serrations or points K thereinto. Another advantage is that layers of fabric, paper, or other material may be forced between the springs A B and the jaws from which they extend and thus strengthen the grasping power of the jaws and insure a tighter hold.

If desired, the folds or springs may be applied to only one of the two jaws. Preferably these folds or springs are of sufficient width to nearly or quite meet and practically cover the inner surfaces of the jaw.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clasp of the character described, the pair of normally open spring-jaws A, B connected at one end at C; the horizontal bearing-rods D and E supported by the jaws A and B respectively within the respective openings at and b, said bearing-rod D being somewhat higher than the bearing-rod E; and the locking-lever H having its rear end formed into the large hook or. loop H inclosing said rods, the front end of said lever extending forward from the jaw A and adapted by downward pressure to close and retain in a closed position said jaws, substantially as described.

2. In a clasp of the character described, a pair of connected jaws adapted to swing with relation to each other; and one or more inwardly-extending folds as A connected with and extending from the outer edge of the jaw and folded inward over its inner surface and formed with protuberances or serrations, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a clasp of the character described, a

,pair of connected jaws adapted to swing with relation to each other, and a pair of folds as A extending from the opposite edges of the jaw inward over its inner surface, the edges of the folds constituting said pair substantially meeting so as to cover said inner surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES F. A'lWVO OD.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. lVILLIAMs, A. N. BoNNnY. 

